For the summer 2024 season the Mad River Riders are offering three youth cycling programs. Participants or their parents must have active VMBA memberships to participate.
Summer Camp
The Rippers Summer Camp is offered by the Mad River Riders in the Mad River Valley in partnership with Stark Mountain Bike Works, Mad Bush Falls, and Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce. During each one-week session, campers will learn mountain bike safety and maintenance, build confident riding techniques, and skills for riding Valley terrain. Coaches will build community through outdoor adventure and fitness allowing riders to develop endurance and character in a safe environment.
Campers must be between the ages of 8 and 12 years old, with the ability to ride a mountain bike on flat land or uphill for at least 45 minutes to an hour. Riders must be comfortable riding single track trails with varied terrain including rocks, roots, mud and berms. They must be able to turn, brake and stop safely. All bikes used at camp must have gears, hand brakes (rim or disc) and pedals (no strider/kick bikes). Other bikes are not appropriate for camp sessions.
Rippers
In its eleventh season, the Mad River Rippers introduces the joys of mountain biking to kids in the Valley aged two and up. Free to all, Rippers is all about igniting a passion for biking while having fun outdoors and making friends. During weekly rides on Tuesday evenings, kids develop bike handling skills, get fit and learn how to overcome challenges. Riders are placed into small groups of similarly skilled riders based on age, experience, and riding style:
- Striders for beginners aged two to four
- Pedalers for beginners aged four to seven
- Cruisers for beginners and intermediate riders aged seven to ten
- Flyers for beginners through intermediate and advanced riders aged eleven to thirteen
- Ride Guides is a group for teenagers with intermediate or advanced skills who are interested in helping guide groups of younger kids along with an adult ride leader. Ride Guides have the option of taking a certification course in Wilderness First Aid and CPR for free in exchange for helping guide younger groups approximately twice a month.
Don't worry if a child doesn't fit neatly into one of the groups described below. Sign them up based on age. Communication with parents and guardians during the registration process is important to help organizers assign riders to the appropriate groups.
Rides take place Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to about 7:00 p.m. at a variety of locations throughout the Mad River Riders trail network, frequently Blueberry Lake and Moretown Elementary School. Parents are encouraged to participate and ride with their children; that is not mandatory.
Devos
The Devo program aims to nurture the prowess of experienced riders in third to sixth grade with the guidance of coaches. Spanning twelve weeks starting in June, this team-based program is geared for riders eager to commit to a summer filled with adventure. Focusing on cross country and enduro skills, theseTuesday evening sessions will prepare participants for the Catamount Trail Wednesday race league and ultimately the fall Vermont Youth Cycling League. Participants should be comfortable with two-hour rides climbing and descending the diverse trails of Camels Hump State Forest and Swell Hill. The $275 cost for the summer includes a tee shirt and name plate. Scholarships are available.
To register for any of the programs visit www.madriverriders.org and select the ‘youth cycling programs’ tab at the top. If fees present a financial challenge, just contact MRR organizers through the website for help.
You might also like
